I happened to be in Auburn yesterday when
I received a text message from my brother saying simply "the Toomer's trees
have been poisoned and are probably going to die."Sadness and anger hit me as I looked across College Street
at the 130-year-old live oak trees, which are such important symbol for the
Tiger family, of which I am a proud member.I immediately started to ponder what sort of person does
such a thing and why on earth would they take out their sports-related
aggression on a tree.

As I was driving home last night, I
thought about this incident and how I hope it can become a teachable moment for
the girls we serve through Girl Scouts.When Liz Brent, our CEO, and I speak to United Way's and other groups,
we always tell people that we are in the business of changing lives; that the
girls we serve will grow up to serve their communities well and, indeed, make
the world a better place.Our volunteers
make certain Girl Scouts know right from wrong; that they understand the
importance of volunteerism and always leaving a place better than they found it.
It's the great thing about our program, and it serves girls throughout their
lives.

Girl Scouts know that it's better to plant a tree than to destroy one. And I
hope they know that, even in Alabama, football's not worth fighting over.The important things are the way we
treat each other and the world around us.Girl Scouts know this is true, and I hope they will pass along to others.